Deutsche Bank AG (DB)

[mdimport]

If $DB's finances are strong enough to handle such a large fine, the bank wouldn't have to go beg (or have the German government go beg) for a reduction in the size of the fine.

It's not haggling over $1B say from $14B to $13B, its much, much bigger, and whomever lied in the AFP report about the $5.4B proposed settlement knows there's a systemic problem.

From Bloomberg:

"...With negotiations now taking place out of the spotlight, analysts and others have been evaluating what the possible penalty might be. The bank has set aside 5.5 billion euros ($6.1 billion) for litigation.

A settlement above that amount would leave the German lender no room to settle other legal issues without increasing capital, JPMorgan analysts have written. Bloomberg Intelligence placed the likely RMBS pact in the $4 billion to $8 billion range based on earlier such bank settlements, but said a final deal amount may be higher given the Justice Department’s $14 billion opening demand. ..."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-05/deutsche-bank-s-14-billion-scare-came-as-ground-shifted-in-u-s